2008 Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers By Brandon Anderson
7/28/08
Email Brandon Tight ends seem to be the forgotten skill position in fantasy football,
even though tight ends these days seem to be more skilled than ever. It’s no
longer just Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and all the others. Last year
Kellen Winslow and Jason Witten had seasons to remember. Dallas Clark threw
down to the tune of 11 TDs. Tight end values were had all over the place. When it comes to TE sleepers, there are only two kinds really worth
caring about. The first is that mid range tight end prospect who could
possibly put up stud TE numbers, and the second is a late pick that could
hop up into the top 10 and be a very solid starter for you. When it comes to
tight ends, there really is nothing in between worth noting. So who are
Sports Outlaw’s sleepers at tight end for this season? Todd Heap, Baltimore
ADP 8.02
There are a lot of reasons to feel good about Todd Heap this year. He’s
healthy again and ready to play after last season’s disappointing 6 game
campaign. He returns to a Baltimore team lacking any real touchdown threats
at receiver, and only Mason is even much of a threat to take away looks. He
will be playing for what is most likely a new starting QB, whether Troy
Smith or possibly rookie Joe Flacco. That may seem a negative at first
glance, but a tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend, a security
blanket for so many dump off passes. But the wild card in Heap’s pocket is
his new offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron. Yeah, he struggled in last
season’s attempt at coaching the Dolphins but that was a sinking ship where
anyone may have failed. But Cameron has consistently featured the tight end
in his offense, most prominently with Antonio Gates in San Diego. Yes, that
Antonio Gates. So look for a few more receptions and a few more red zone
looks for Heap this season, and you’ve got a candidate who could rise as
high as a top 3 TE this fall. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans
ADP 9.01
Shockey is a real wild card in every sense of the term. First of all, you
never know what to expect with this guy – he could blow a cork in the
preseason and never even see the field. And secondly, it’s hard to estimate
his ADP accurately since he was traded to the Saints so recently. But a
couple things are certain. First, Jeremy Shockey is extremely talented. No
one questions that. Second, Shockey has had great seasons before, like his
rookie season where he put up almost 900 yards under – sound familiar? – OC
Sean Payton. And third, you can never underestimate an emotional player
going out there with a chip on his shoulder, especially a very talented one
like Shockey. New England has played this trump card time and time again,
most recently with Randy Moss last year. The sky is the limit for Shockey if
he gets his game on, and even that may be too low. Tony Scheffler, Denver
ADP 10.02
I’m not sure why, but people seem to be sleeping on Tony Scheffler. This guy
was playing with a hurt foot last season, only actually played in 12 games,
and still snuck into the top 10 fantasy TEs last year, and now he’s not even
being drafted among the top 10 guys at his position this year. Scheffler has
clearly become one of Jay Cutler’s favored targets, and he may be looked to
even more often this year with Javon Walker gone and Brandon Marshall, well,
who knows where Brandon Marshall will be by the time the season starts? He
could be suspended, maybe in jail, or maybe just slipping on another
McDonald’s bag. Either way, Scheffler may be the best target Cutler has, and
he could make a run at a top 5 TE spot if things bounce right. Greg Olsen, Chicago
ADP undrafted
If people are sleeping on Scheffler, then they are hibernating on Greg Olsen
who is someone going completely undrafted in most leagues out there. Okay,
face the facts, he was only the #22 TE last year, and he still has Desmond
Clark to deal with. But you may not realize just how impressive Olsen was
last season. He was only really healthy for one stretch during the middle of
the season, and in that one six game stretch he managed to put up 26
catches, 270 yards, and 2 TDs. On the season Olsen finished with 39/391/2,
which seems to be nothing special. But that’s awfully good for a rookie TE,
and it is in fact just about identical numbers to what Antonio Gates and
Tony Gonzalez did their rookie seasons before blossoming into the studs they
are today. Olsen may not be read to challenge them just yet, but a healthy
campaign should at least see him in the top 10. Zach Miller, Oakland
ADP 17.04
Speaking of rookie tight ends then, how about a rookie who did even better
last season, Zach Miller? Miller was actually in the top 10 among tight ends
in number of times targeted, but a lack of touchdowns and accurate throws by
Oakland’s awful QBs kept him from finishing in the top 15. This year he will
need to mesh with JaMarcus Russell, and how well he does that may be
anyone’s guess. Care for a preview though? How about week 17 last year,
Russell’s first career NFL start? Miller threw down for 8 catches and 84
yards that day, easily his best game of the season. Things may be looking
up. Comment on
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